Timpana (Baked Macaroni Pie)

Ingredients:

100g onions, peeled and chopped
200g minced beef
400g macaroni
50g tomato purée
2 eggs, hard-boiled
50g grated cheese
600ml beef stock
3 eggs
salt and freshly-ground black pepper
olive oil
4 eggs, beaten
100g cheese, grated
300g flaky pastry (or pastizzi dough

Method:

Heat a little olive oil in a pan, add the onions and fry for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Add the meat and continue cooking for about 5 minutes, or until browned all over. Stir in the stock and tomato purée then bring to a simmer and cook for a further 20 minutes.

Prepare the pastry according to the directions and set aside.

In the meantime, bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook for about 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain the pasta then place in a large bowl. Add the cooked meat and its sauce then chop the eggs and add these along with the seasonings. Stir well to combine then set aside.

Line the base of a large pie dish with your pastry, pour in the beef mix then pour over the beaten eggs and sprinkle with the grated cheese. Transfer to an oven pre-heated to 170°C and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the pastry is cooked through and the filling is set.

Serve warm.